Method of and apparatus for obtaining power from the surf



W. S. SCOTT.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING POWER FROM THE SURF- APPLICATIONFILED JULYT. 1917. RENEWED NOV. 4.1921.

1,418,680.. I atented u e 6, 19 22..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. S. SCOTT.

METHOD OF AND APFARATUS'FOR OBTAINING POWER FROM THE SURF.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZ. 1917. RENEWED NOV- 4.1921.

2 suns-slain 2.

1,418,680. Patented June 6,1922.

F159 RG6 t if.

STATES ATEN' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING POWER FROM THE SUB/F.

Lat-18,680.

Application filed July 7, 1917, Serial No. 179,108.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,lV1LLIAM SEAMAN Soor'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Maplewood, in the county of Essex, State ofNew Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus forObtaining Power from the Surf, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a method and apparatus for utilizing the energyof ocean waves as they break upon a shore, and contemplates the storageof such energy in the form of compressed air, or water power, and itsuse in either or both of such forms, in suitable power translatingdevices. d

In the practice of my invention, I make use of the impact force of abreaking wave, to produce movement of a mass of water into a containeragainst the pressure of a head of water, and also to propel into saidcontainer and compress therein, air carried in the water, or trapped bythe movement of the wave in the manner hereinafter described.

My invention also contemplates certain modifications, whereby the energymay. be partly on entirely stored in the form of compressed air atmoderate pressures, as up to fifty or sixty pounds per square inch, andalso the provision of means whereby air at different pressures may besimultaneously obtained from differentportions of my apparatus.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, I have illustratedmore or less diagrammatically. and without reference to absolute orrelative dimensions, examples of the various forms which my apparatus orparts thereof may take. It should be understood, however, that the formsillustrated are not the only ones my apparatus is capable of taking, andthat they are shown herein merely by way of illustration, and that manymodifications and changes may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention. v

In Fig. 1, I have shown a plan view of my apparatus;

In Fig. 52, a side view thereof partly in section, the section beingtaken on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

In Fig. 3, a sectional view of a modification of my invention; I

In Figs. 4:, 5 and 6, detail views of one form of a portion of myapparatus;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 192.2.

Renewed November 4, 1921. Serial No. 512,938.

InFigs. 7 andS, detail views of another form of a portion of myapparatus;

In Fig. 9, a detail view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated inFigs. t to 8 inclusive; and in Figs. 10 and 11, detail views showing avalve mechanism which may be used with my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, my apparatus comprises a closed, separatingchamber 1., preferably, as shown, of elongated form, so as to permitsubstantially complete separation of the air from the water in which itis entrapped before the water reaches the standpipe and overflowsubsequently to be described. The chamber 1 is preferably, as shown,above the ground and is also preferably not below but even slightlyabove, the level of the waves and is located in proximity to a beach,and preferably outside of the destructive action of the waves.

The separating chamber 1 is air and water i tight and*serves as a spacein which the mixed air and water are separated from each other.

Connected to the chamber 1 and extending towards the sea, are aplurality of pipes 2, which may be supported by piles 3 sunk in thebeach by any suitable or convenient method. Pipes 2 carry at their outerends, wave-receiving means t, which may be in the form offunnels, andwhich may take any suitable form, examples of which are illustrated inFigs. {i to 8. The wave receiving means -i are preferably located tofollow the general. line of the approaching waves on the beach, and toreceive the impact of the breaking wave under the various conditions oftide. To accomplish these results, they may be superimposed or arrangedin echelon, or in any other suitable manner.

Between the wave-receiving means 4 and the separating chamber 1 islocated a gate valve 5, or any other hand-operated cut-ofi' and anautomatic valve. such as the check valve 6, permit-ting thefiow of thewater t owards the separating chamber 1, but preventing the flow awayfrom it. A second gate, or hand-operated valve, 7, is preferably locatedclose to the container. The gate valves 5 permit, when closed, theexamination and repair of the automatic valves 6.

Valves 5, 6 and 7 should be of a suitable size to permit the full, freeflow of water carried by the pipes 2 to pass through them with the leastpossible retardation or obstruction. In order to reduce or check thehigh velocity of the water in the pipes, the latte are preferablyprovided with portions of gradually increasing crossseetion indicated at8, preferably adjacent those points of th pipes 2 where the latterapproach the separating chamber 1. Located opposite the inlet pipes :2in the separating chamber 1 are bailie plates 9 or other suitable meansfor breaking the impact of the water when it reaches the separatingchamber 1. The second series of gate valves 7 is preferably placedbetween the automatic valves 6 and th enlarged portions 8 of the pipes2.

The container may also be supplied with suitable openings, indicated at10, to permit cleaning out sand or rubbish which may penetrate withinit.

Connected to the container 1, and preferably located at a point aconsiderable dis tance from pipes 2, is a stand pipe ll, communicatingwith the container 1, by means of: an orifice 12. which is lower thanthe height of the container 1. In said stand pipe there is consequentlymaintained a column' oi water which after the apparatus has beenoperating for some time, is oi a substantially constant, predeterminedheight above the level of the incoming water. This column of ater ofsubstantially constant height e, erts a substantially constant pressureupon the air within the separating chamber, so that the intermittentimpulses of: the waves entering the tunnels are not directlycoinmunicated to the air within the separating chamber. Stand pipe l1communicates at its top with downflow pipe 13, and is provided with aspillway 14 For any excess of water. The lower end of? the downflow pipe13 is connected, in any suitable manner, to suitable translatingdevices, such as turbines or Pelton wheels, indicated diagrannnaticallyat 15, said translating devices being supplied with an out'l'low pipe16. l preterably arrange the spillway let to empty into acatch-basin 17,having an overflow 18. The water falling from the spillway thus fallsupon the body of water in the catchbasin 1?, and prevents destructiveaction due to the height from which it falls. The water from the wasteweir and that from the translating devices is carried back to the oceanby any. suitably located channel, said channel being preferably solocated that the flow will not disturb the other operative portions ofthe device.

Container 1 is also provided with a blow oi? pipe or governor 19 andoutlets 20. for compressed air service pipe. I

The operation of the device described thus far is substantially asfollows: The surf, breaking into the wave-receiving devices 4:. forcesat each wave. a certain amount of water mixed. with air into the pipes2, past the automatic valve 6 into the container 1.

The water is there deflected by the baiile plates 9, and the air held inthe water is given up, rising to the top of the container. The level ofthe water in the container 1 is thus raised. At first the air escapesfreely up the stand pipe until the level of the water has reached theupper edge of the orifice lid, into the stand pipe 11. At this point theair is sealed against escape into stand pipe ll... The blow-off pipe 19,which is preferably provided with a bell mouth, as indicated in F 2, isthen sealed by the rising water, and a certain quantity of air istrapped. between the level of the water and the top of the container 1.Further increments of water entering through the tunnels 4 into pipes 2serve to raise the level of the water in the stand pipe 11, thuscompressing the air trapped in the upper part of container 1, and thedecreasing of the volume 01' this trapped air is compensated for byfurther air introduced with the further increments of water. Theoperation of the device thus continues, the level of the water in standpipe 11 being constantly aised, and the air being therefore compressedto a higher pressure, until the level of the water reaches the top ofthe stand pipe 11, and overflows into the downfio'w pipe 13. After thislevel has been reached, the air is maintained at a constant pressure (aslong as the stand pipe ll is "Full of water) the height of the column ofwater in stand pipe 11 regulating the air pressure within the separatingchamber. If more air accumulates there is drawn off for service anyexcess of air. any iurther excess of air being i'lischargeil through thehlow-ofi' pipe 19 or through the stand pipe 11, There is thus availablea supply of COIHPIQSSGt'fl air which may in drawn oil as needed, throughthe service pipe 20 and supplied to suitable translating devices at asul'istantiallv constant pressure.

The overflow of water into the down flow pipe 13 may be utilized For thepurpose of driving suitable translating devices. and

it the water requirements of such devices are properly designed theywill be kept constantly operating under a head of water equivalent tothe height of the downflow pipe 13. The compressed air and the waterfrom the downllow shaft. may he used tor any other desired purpose asfor example, for directly lifting water from the drainage canal of tidalor other marshes.

It willhe understood that the arrange ment of stand pipe and downfiowpipe may be dimlicated as illustrated in Fig. l. and that a number ofsuch pairs of pipes may he provided with a common spillway. asindicated. in said drawing.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. it is evident that thepressure of the air in the separating chamber 1 is regulated by theheight of stand pipe 11, each twent seven and one half inches in heightof the water column corresponding to one pound pressure per square inchon the air in separating chamber 17. It may be desirable, at certaintimes, to secure compressed air at higher pressures. For this purpose, Iprefer to use the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, which gives goodresults up to one hundred and thirty or even one hundred and fiftypounds of pressure per square inch.

In this modification, 1 make use of the separating chamber 1, providedwith the blow-off pipe 19, stand pipe 11, compressed air service pipe20, and the funnel, pipe and valve apparatus forintroducing air andwater therein. 1, however, provide, in addi tion to saidseparatingchamber, an underground separating chamber 21, which may belocated at any convenient depth, depending upon the pressure desired.Instead of using the water in the downflow pipe 13 to operatetranslating devices 15. as in the mod ification shown in Figs. 1 and 2.I make use of said water to gather and compress an additional supply ofair in the underground chamber 21 in the following manner:

Chamber 21 is provided with a blow-off pipe 22, a service compressed airoutlet pipe 23, and an outflow shaft 24, which communicates with chamber21 by means of an aperture 25 of less height than the height of chamber21. The downflow shaft 13 is provided at its top with'suitableair'inlets 26, and communicates at its bottom with cham ber 21. 1preferably enlarge the'lower end of downflow shaft 13. as indicated at27, and provide a suitable baffie plate 28 to disperse the stream ofwater flowing through the downflow shaft 13. The operation of thisapparatus is essentially as follows:

Air is compressed in chamber 1. as in the modification of Figs. 1 and 2,and the level of water in stand pipe 11 rises until it overflows intodowntlow shaft 13. When the water overflows in this manner, itsucks intodownflow shaft a certain quantity of air through. the air inlets 26,which air is carried down to the lower chamber 21. and. there given off,rising to the top of chamber 21. As more water and air is carried downdownfiow shaft 13', the level of the water in outflow shaft 24 rises,thus compressing the air, and more air is supplied to the upper part ofchamber 21. I am thus enabled to supply compressed air from air outlet20 of chamber 1, at a pressure which is a function of the height ofstand pipe 11, and I am able to supply air through outlet pipe 23 at apressure which is a function of. the height of outflow shaft 24.

If desired, and if the supply of water is sufficient, a portion of thewater flowing through downfiow shaft 13 may be used to operatetranslating devices, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2'. Among thedevices fication described, the container 1 is an air and water tightchamber so constructed that the upper portion thereof is a compressedair chamber, and the lower portion a large passage for the water, sothat the water will move slowly from the entrance pipes to the standpipe and give up its contained air. The gradual enlargement of theentrance pipes and the baffle-plates assist in reducing the speed ofmovement of the water, and thus permit it to give up more of its airthan it otherwise would. The topof the connection between the chamberand the stand pipe constitutes a water seal for the compressed air, andthe height of the water in the stand pipe regulates the air compression.and being always full, maintains a substantially constant pressure uponthe air, thereby stabilizing such compressed air for power purposes.

In the second modification, the underground chamber is'so constructedthat the upper portion is a compressed air chamber and the lower portiona large passage for the water, which will give up its contained air asit slowly passes from'the downflow shaft to the outflow shaft. The topof the waterway in the chamber at each shaft forms a water seal forthe-compressed air. The difference in level between the tops of thedownflow and outflow shafts gives the power head, and the difference inlevel between the water in the chamberand the top of the outflow shaftgives the air compression head. It will thus be noted that in both thesurface and underground chambers the air is compressed isothermally andnot adiabatically, and for this reason a maximum efficiency for powerpurposes is obtained.

InFigs. 4 to 8, I have illustrated some modifications of thewave-receiving devices or funnels 4, the modification illustrated inFigs. 4, 5 and 6 being an arrangement of three superimposed funnels,having straight converging sides, although said funnels may be formedwith parabolic, or otherwise curved sides, as indicated in Fig. 1. Thisarrangement of funnels permits operation of the same at all stages oftide. The effect of such restriction of the funnels is to concentratethe concussive force of. the waves upon their small inner ends. In Fig.4, three of such funnels are shown having the pipes connected theretoslightly ofi'set, so as to permit access to the gate valves 5 andautomatic. valves 6, the latter being illustrated in Fig. 4 as being avertically hinged flap valve.

When said. funnels are superimposed. they may be conveniently supportedby means of spacing members which tend to make a rigid structure.adapted. to arrest the impact of the waves. The mouths of tunnels darepreferably covered with a screen or grill 30. to prevent the entrance oidebris. seaweed, etc and to break up the waves so that they will gatherfree air and the bottom of the tunnels are forwardly inclined to permitquick reflux oi? the waves and to permit the tunnels to fill with airbefore the next wave strilqes into the mouth thereol. the mouths of thetunnels are prei? erahly inclined. as indicated .in Fig; 6, so (but thedebris collecting upon screen 80 may fall off by gravity.

I preferably provide the lower edge of the lowermost tunnel with a lip31. which may be constructed. as shown in Fig. 9. from sheet steel. Thislip permits the easy ingress of the wave. 'llorccs a larger body ofwater against the mouth of the ilfunnel, and directs the scour of thereceding wave away from the piling or other support of the tunnels. Itdcsi red. the lower edges of the tunnels of the upper tiers may heprovided with similar lips. but I lind that the prolongation of thelower wall of the upper "funnels, as indicated at is sufficient.

In Figs. 7 and 8. I have shown an arrangement ot tunnels. in which twotunnels are superimposed. the bottom of each shelving towards the topand being provided with slightly ofiset pipes to permit access to thegrate valves and check valves 6. In this case, the check valves areillustrated as being horizontally hinged flap valves. and the tunnelsare illustrated as being provided with a lip 31 and a grating 30, as inthe other modifications.

In Figs. it and 11.. i. have illustrated amoditied form of valve, whichcomprises a plurality ol poppet valves seated in a disk 83. and guidedby a disk 3- T his design of valve permits of a very wide openin and byreason of the relatively small size of the. constituent val'ves subjectto less impact force upon the seating of the valves than in, the llapvalves illustrated in Figs. 4 and T. It should, however, he understoodthat my invention is not confined to any pz'irtirular form of valve. andthat these may be varied to best suit the requirements of iniattirc. maybe the other apparatus described above.

I claim: 1. In a device of the kind described. a

portions of my chamber. a plurality of wave-receiving means connectedthereto. a stand pipe communicatinc with said chamber, an outflow 2. Ina device of the kind described. a chamber, adapted to contain a body ofair and a body o'l, water, a plurality of wavereceivifng means adaptedto deliver air and water thereto, a stand pipe communicating with theportion of the chamber containing water, an outflow pipe communicatingwith the stand pipe adjacent its upper end. a second chamber located ata lower level than the first chamber. and adapted to contain a body ofair and a body of water, the portion of said chamber adapted to containa body of water being connected to the outflow pipe.

3. In a device of the kind described. a. chamber, adapted to contain abody of air in its upper portion and a body of water in its lowerportion. a stand. pipe connected to the lower portion of the chamber adownflow pipe communicating with the stand pipe adjacent its upperextremity. a second cham ber located at a lower level than the firstchamber, and adapted to contain a body of air in its upper portion. thelower portion thereof being connected to the downflow pipe, and anoutflow shaft connected to the lower portion only of said lower chamber.

4;. In a device of the kind described, a chamber, adapted to contain abody of air in its upper portion. and a body of water in its lowerportion, a plurality of wave-receiving means connected to the lowerportion of said chamber, means for permitting the flow of water in onedirection only between said wavereceiving means and said chamber, astand pipe connected. to the lower portion of said chan'ibe-r, a.downflow pipe communicating with the stand pipe adjacent its upperextremity, a second chamber located at a lower level than the firstchamber, and adapted to contain a body of water in its lower portion anda body of air in its upper portion. the lower portion of said chainberbeing connected to the said downflow pipe. and an outflow shaftconnected to the lower portion only of said lower chamber.

5. In a device of the kind iileffljifibd. wavereceiving means.con'iprising a funnel. provided with a lip attached to the lower edgeoi? the funnel and projecting forwardly and mitwardly therefrom.

6. In a device for obtaining power from aves. the combination with anair and water separating chamber positioned substantially at the levelol the i DCOITllTlQ waves, of one or more wave-receiving; meansdischarging into said chamber tor delivering the incoming waves to saidchamber sul'istantially at the level of the same. a stand pipe connectedto said chamber adjacent the bottom thereof and extending above saidchamber and also above the level of the incoming water. and means formaintaining the height of the column of water in said stand pipesubstantially constant,

said substantially constant column of water serving to maintain air insaid chamber under substantially constant pressure.

7. In a device for obtaining power from Waves, the combination with anair and water separating chamber positioned not substantially below thelevel of the incoming waves, of one or more wave-receiving -meansdischarging into said chamber for delivering the incoming waves to saidchamber substantially at the level of. the same, a stand pipe connectedto said chamber adjacent the bottom thereof and extending abovesaidchamber and also above the level of the incoming water, means formaintaining the height of the column of water in said stand pipesubstantially constant, said substantially constant column of waterserving to maintain air in said chamber under substantially constantpressure, and means for drawing oil the overflow water from said standpipe.

8. In a device for obtaining power from waves, the combination with anair and water separating chamber positioned substantially at the levelof the incoming waves, of one or more wave-receiving means discharginginto said chamber for delivering the incoming Waves to said chambersubstantially at the level of the same, a stand pipe connected to saidchamber adjacent the bottom thereof and extending above said chamber andalso above the level of the incoming water, means for maintaining theheight of the column of water in said stand pipe substantially constantsaid substantially constant column of water serving to maintain air insaid chamber under substantially constant pressure, means for drawingoff the overflow water from said stand pipe, and power-translation meansassociated with said last-mentioned means for utilizing said overflowwater.

9. In a device for obtaining power from waves, the combination with anair and water separating chamber positioned not substantially below thelevel of the incoming waves, of one or more wave-receiving meansdischarging into said chamber for delivering the incoming waves to saidchamber substantially at the level of the same, a stand pipe connectedto said chamber adjacent the bottom thereof and extending above saidchamber and also above the level of the incoming water, means formaintaining the height of the column of water in said stand pipesubstantially constant, said substantially constant column of waterserving to maintain air in said chamber under substantially constantpressure, means for drawing off the overflow water from said stand pipe,power-translation means associated with said last-mentioned means forutilizing said overflow water, and means associated with the air in saidchamber for utilizing the same "for power purposes.

10. The method. of obtaining power from waves, which comprises, incombination, the steps of discharging the waves, consisting of mixed airand water, into a container, said discharge taking place substantiallyat the level of the incoming waves and the container permitting the airand water to become separated, thereafter causing the air, undercompression, in cooperation with the subsequent incoming waves, to actupon the water within the container to raise the same to a substantiallyconstant level above the level of the incoming waves, whereby the air ismaintained under a substantially con' stant pressure, and thereafterdrawing oft desired portions of the overflow water or of the compresseda1r for power or other purposes.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this27th day of June, 1917.

WILLIAM SEAMAN SCOTT.

